Former aide sings Bush's praises

It was written by Ron Christie, who served as special assistant to the president -- and earlier as deputy assistant to the vice president for domestic policy. He served in both jobs in Bush's first term and left the White House in 2004.

He is now executive vice president and director of global government affairs at Ruder Finn Inc. a public relations company.

Christie is an African American and a native of Palo Alto, Calif. Before joining the White House staff, he was counsel to Sen. George Allen, R-Va., and later worked as senior adviser to then-Rep. John Kasich, R-Ohio, one-time chairman of the House Budget Committee.

His new book titled "Black in the White House" shows he was not only awestruck to be in the presidential circle but also had some harrowing moments when fellow black Americans taunted him for carrying water for a Republican president.

Other former Bush aides such as Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Richard Clarke, former White House anti-terrorism chief, either wrote or helped write negative books about Bush after they left government work.

But Christie has another take about his former boss.

"Much has been written about the 43rd president of the United States thus far, yet relatively little has been written about what George W. Bush is like as a man behind the scenes," Christie wrote.

He rejected what he called the media version of Bush "as being manipulated by others and devoid of intellect or warmth (or worse)." Christie said he observed "none of these traits" in the president.

He said Bush was a "highly organized and efficient man who expected the best of himself and the staff around him."

"Pity the staffer," he added, who was not prepared to answer questions in his or her area of expertise.

The author said he found the president to be "as decent and unaffected" in contrast "to the arrogance and bravado" he has encountered elsewhere in Washington.

Christie also said Bush was not fond of staffers who liked to "hang around in his presence." You had to have a reason to be there.

It appeared Christie stayed in good graces by speaking only when spoken to. He said that while the president "can be extremely hard on his staff if they are unprepared, Mr. Bush possesses a warmth and true love of people that the press has elected to largely ignore."

Christie was often called on to speak to groups "composed of persons of color to carry the message that Bush was the president of all Americans, regardless of race."

But his opinion of Bush was not always shared by his audiences. For example, Christie writes that he was hissed and booed when he spoke to the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials -- an affiliate of the National League of Cities, made up of black mayors, city council members and state legislators.

His take on other White House colleagues:

Vice President Dick Cheney, "a consummate team player whose loyalty to President Bush is unparalleled."

Andrew Card, chief of staff, "thoughtful, unassuming and extremely intelligent ... the glue that holds the ship together."

Karl Rove: "The nation and the president are well served" by Rove, who has "a formidable loyal staff and confidantes to keep him up on the latest 'buzz' inside and outside the White House."

Scooter Libby, who was indicted in the Valerie Plame leak case apparently after Christie wrote the book, was described as "unflappable ... a pillar of stability after 9/11 ... a true gentleman."

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